Melody warner



D. RONCONI MELODY WARNER Oct. 21, 1930.

Filed Feb. 16 1928 Patented Oct. 21, 1930 PATENT GFFICE DOMINIC RONCONI, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MELODY WARNER Application filed February 15, 1928. Serial No. 254,707.

The present invention relates to sound warning devices adapted for use with motor operated vehicles, such as automobiles, and of the type for playing a pleasing series of tones or a melody or the like.

Among'the objects of the invention is to provide a novel melody warner which may be controlled at will for playing it at anydesired moment and which has means for automatically operating or controlling a musical instrumentor a series of scaled tone emitting elements so as to effect the playing of a melody or the like.

In a specific illustrative embodiment of 115 the invent-ion, the device is adapted for being driven from a rotating part of the motor, such as the fan pulley or the like. The drive means includes a means for establishing a driving connection to the device such as a 2 magnetic clutch in a push button circuit, such that when closing the circuit, the clutch is closed and the device is operates. A blower is thus driven for supplying air under pressure to tone emitting elements of a wind instrument, such as reed trumpets or the like, which are sealed for different tones. The el ments have stops adapted to be opened and closed by a cam device carrying a set of cams so arranged and having such dwell portions thereon as to, at proper inst-ants and for proper time lengths, open the stops and cause the playing of a melody, this being effected automatically. The cam means may have a plurality of sets of cams, such that in one adjusted or selected position of the cam device one melody may be played, and when adjusted to another or selected position, may play another melody. The means for driving the blower is also adapted for driving the cam device at the desired speed, and when the circuit is opened, de-clut-ching action allows the blower and the cam device to cease operation. The cam device may be replaceable by other devices having different melody combinations of cams.

Other objects, advantages, capabilities, and features are comprehended by the invent-ion as will later appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top plan View with parts in section of a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in vertical transverse section taken in planes represented by line 2-2 in Fig. 1 of the drawings; and Fig. 3 is a. horizontal sectional View taken in a plane represented by line 3-8 in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the illustrative embodiment selected to illustrate the invention is shown as having a base 1 which may have a flange 2 by which the base may be secured and supported to any suitable part of a motor of a vehicle in such position that a belt running from a pulley, such as the fan pulley, or other rotating element, may be adapted to operate over a grooved pulley 3 secured to the end of a shaft l rotatably mounted in a bearing 5 carried by a post rigid with the base 1. The shaft carries a magnetic clutch having a driven shaft element 6 rotatably supported in a bearing 7 supported by a post 8 also rigid with the base 1.

To the shaft l is rigidly secured a clutch member 9'having clutch engaging teeth 10 and a hub 11, the latter being secured to the shaft at in any suitable manner, such as a set screw 12 as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Upon the shaft 6 is splined a similar clutch member 13 having clutch teeth 14 adapted to engage with the teeth 10. Between the two clutch members may be provided a yielding means, such as a spring 15, as clearly shown. For the purpose of centering the parts, shaft 6 may have a projecting pintle 16 extending to a central recess 17 provided in the end of the shaft 4. Surrounding the clutch, and mainly the clutch element 9, is a solenoid 18 connected in circuit with a source of power, such as a battery 19 connected by way of a switch 20, which may be of the push button type, an l connected on the other side, to a grounded connection 21. The other side of the solenoid may also be connected to ground.

The shaft 6 continues with areduced diameter portion 2-3 through a blower 24:, the end of the reduced portion extending beyond the blower and carrying a mitre pinion 25. To the reduced portion 23 is secured a hub ion 26, as by a cross pin 27 or the like, of a fan blade device 28. At one side of the blower is provided an air inlet chamber 29 having an inlet opening covered by suitable filtering blower casing. The blower has an outlet'portion 33 leading to a tubular passage 34 eX-' tendingover the blower and having a series of upright tone elements 35 inwhich may be carried reed devices 36 of desired tone char-- acteristics to produce the "given tone of a scale. At the upper endot each element 35- is a stop or valve 37 carried by a lever 38, suitably. mounted upon a bracket 39 secured to the side of the tube 34 as clearlyshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A spring 40 maybe connected between the lever 38 and the bracket 39 for normally maintaining the stop valve 36 in closed position. The lever 38 eX- tends to a position for operation with the cam device and each lever carries at its outer end a cam contacting roller 41. The chamberin the tube 34 may be'closed at its outer end by a suitable partition 42 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings. The tube may be extended into the form of a horn 43 or the like, as desired.

For'the purpose of operating the stops 36 by way of the'levers 38, a cam device is provid'edwhich is substantially of cylindrical formand comprising an arbor 8O threaded at one end to receive a clamping nut 81, and having rigidly secured to theother end a gear 70 having a hub 70" acting as an abutment element for the series of'cams. Upon this arbor 80 are placed a series of cam rings 82 having cam lobes or the like 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50,59, 60, 61 62, 63 and '64 in alternate arrangement with washers orspacers 83. The cams 44' to 50 inclusive form one series to effect a given melody, and cams 59 to 64 inclusive, to effect another melody. This is illustrative and it is understood that any other series, three or more, may be used. These cams-and spacers are placed on the arbor in given order, the cams being angularly adjusted to proper relation, and the nut 81 tightened to clamp them in a rigid position or relation. The cam lobes may be'of different widths having greater or less dwell portions51, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. At the ends of the cylinder are provided trunnions 52 and 53 having a plurality of bearing grooves 54 and 55 adapted to cooperate with bearings 56 and '57 carried at the upper end of supporting posts 58 rigid with the base 1 of the device. It will be noted that one set of cams has been indicated by'the reference characters 44 to 50 inclusive. A second set'ott cams 59, 60, 61, 62, 63 and 64 may be provided in addition to the cams of the first set or series. Likewise a third set may be provided and in any number of sets as desired. Each set of cams is so arranged that when the cylinder is set with one of its grooves of each trunnion in the bearing therefor, one melody, may be played by the particular set of cams located opposite the levers 38 when the cam device is rotated to operate the levers 38 and-the stops37. When it is desired to play a different melody, the cylinder may be bodily lifted and shifted ax- ,ially so as to bring another set of grooves in the trunnions upon the bearings 56 and 5'? and bring another set of cams under the levers 38.

For the purpose of operating the cam device, that is to say, to rotate the same and to bring the cams successively under the outerly extending ends of the' levers 38, the pinion 25 is meshed with aring gear 65 carried on a shaft 66 suitably rotatably supported in bear ings carried in the posts 58. At one end of the shaft is carried a gear 67 meshing with a gear 68 carried upon a stud shaft 69 secured to one of the posts 58. Gear 68 in turn meshes with a gear 70 secured to one end of the cam cylinder device. gear teeth of gear 68 are long so that when, the cylinder is moved axiallythe gear 70 may always be meshed with the gear 68 irrespective of the amount of axial adjustment made thereof for playing difierent melodies. inthe operation of the device, the operator closes the push button switch 20 thus sending a current through the magnetic clutch device. This will cause the clutch elements to be brought into engagement with each other, and the drive will be established through the'shatt 6 to the blower anl also through the gears leading to the cam cylinder. The blower will compress air to supply the same to the chamberor tubes 34 and the tone elements. A rotation of the cam device then will efiect the opening of some of the stops 36 at the proper time to relieve the air in the elements and cause the reeddevices to give off musical tones. The length of these tones is governed i der will continue to rotate to complete orrepeat the melody. If it be desired to change to another melody, the operator'has simply to shift the cylinder to bringanother set of cams under the stop levers. Theoperatio'n of the cam device is efiecte'd at the same time as when the blower is operated and this will continue as longas the circuit is maintained closed. Then the circuit is opened, the spring in the clutch mechanism, will disengagethe clutch teeth, bringing the clutch member 13 into disengaged position, asclearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings. At thesame'time the-blower and the'cam mechanism will ceaseoperation.

From the above it will be noted that this device is one that will automatically play a melody or tune in accordance with the selected It will be noted that the ion sets of cams used in the device, by a simple pressing of the button in the electrical circuit, without the necessity of using a finger board as heretofore.

lVhile I have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend other constructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A warning device comprising tone emitting elements of given pitch of tones, means for controlling the operation of said elements in accordance with a given melody, said means comprising an operating member and a series of cam elements operated by said member, each element having cams, and means for operating the control means at will.

2. A warning device comprising tone emitting elements of given pitch of tones, means arranged in accordance with the notes of a melody and associated with said elements to control the operation of the same, said means comprising an operating member and a series of cam elements operated by said member, each element having cams, and means for op erating said control means at will.

3. A warning device comprising tone emitting elements of given pitch of tones, a source of fluid under pressure for operating said elements, means for controlling said elements, means for operating said controlling means to play a melody, said operating means having electrical means for setting said operating means in operation at will.

4. A warning device comprising tone emitting elements of given pitch of tones, means for supplying afluid under pressure to said elements, means for controlling the action of said elements, means for causing the controlling means to operate in accordance with a given melody, said means comprising an operating member and a series of cam elements operated by said member, each element having cams, and manually controlled means for causing the operation of said supplying means and said control means.

5. A melody warner adapted for use with motor operated vehicles, comprising driving means adapted to be operated from an operating part of the vehicle, means for creating a fluid pressure, a musical instrument having note emitting elements adapted to be operated by said fluid, said driving means having a clutch means, and means for operating the clutch at will.

6. A melody Warner adapted for use with motor operated vehicles, comprising driving means adapted to be operated from an operating part of the vehicle, means for creating a fluid pressure, a musical instrument adapted to be operated by said fluid, said driving means having an electrical clutch, and means for controlling the circuit of said clutch for operating the same at will.

7. A melody warner adapted for use with motor operated vehicles, comprising driving means adapted to be operated from an operating part of the vehicle, means for creating a fluid pressure, a musical instrument adapted to be operated by said fluid, said driving means having an electro-magnetic clutch, and means for controlling the circuit of said clutch for operating the same at will.

8. A melody warner adapted for use with motor operated vehicles, comprising driving means adapted to be operated from an operating part of the vehicle, means for creating a fluid pressure, a musical instrument adapted to be operated by said fluid, said driving means having a clutch means, an electro-magnetic means associated with said clutch means for operating the same when said electro1nagnetic means is energized, and means for energizing and de-energizing said electro-magnetic means at will.

9. A melody warner adapted for use with motor operated vehicles, comprising a musical instrument having note emitting elements, a blower for supplying air under pressure to said elements, drive means for said blower and adapted to be driven from an 1 operating 1 of said vehicle, and control means for etlecting operation of the driven means at will, and means for control ing said elements in accordance with the notes of a melody.

10. A melody Warner adapted for use with motor operated vehicles, comprising a musical instrument having note emitting elements, a blower for supplying air under pressure to said elements, drive means for said blower and adapted to be driven from an operating part of said vehicle, and control means for eii'ecting operation of the driven means at will, and means driven by said drive means and associated with said elements for operating the same in accordance with the notes of a melody.

11. A melody warner adapted for use with motor operated vehicles, comprising a musical ins ments, a blower for supplying air under pres sure to said elements, drive means for said blower and adapted to be driven from an operating part of said vehicle, and control means for effecting operation of the driven means atwill, and cam means operated by the drive means and operatively associated with said elements for their operation with a given melody.

12. A melody warner adapted for use with a motor operated vehicle, comprising a musical instrument having wind stops, means having cams cooperative with said stops to 0p erate them in accordance with a given melody, means for supplying air under pressure trument having note emitting eleto said instrument, and means for operating said cam means and said air supplying means at will.

13. A melody warner adapted for use with v 5 a motor operated vehicle, comprising a musical instrument having wind stops, means having cams cooperative with said stops to operate them in accordance with a given melody, said cam means having a plurality of sets of cams each arranged for giving a given melody, means for adjustably supporting said cam means in any seleotedadjusted position for the'given melody tohe played, means for supplying air under-pressure to said inf-ztrument, and means for operating said cam means and said air supplying means at Will. 14. A melody Warner adapted for use with a motor operated vehicle, comprising a musical instrument having a series of note emit- 2 ting elements, means for supplying a fluid under pressure for operating said elements, means having aset of cams each located to efiect the operation of an element in given tune relation with a given note, each cam having a dwell portion for controlling the time length of the note controlled thereby, and means for controlling the operation of said cam means at will.

15. A melody Warner adapted for use with a motor operated vehicle, comprising a musical instrument having a series of note emitting. elements, means for supplying a fluid under pressure for operating said elements, means for controlling the operation of said elements in accordance with a given melody,

said means comprising sets of cams each set of which is arranged to control the elements for playing a given melody, means for adjusting the cainmeans to any selected position for 40 playing the melody of said setting, and means ,for controlling the operation of said cam means at will. 7 y

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

a DOMINIC RONCONI. 

